Prts ,

[brucefan]

[h=3]U.S. Auto Parts Initiates New Stock Repurchase Program[/h]The following excerpt is from the company's SEC filing.

CARSON, Calif. - May 17, 2017-

U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc.(NASDAQ: PRTS), one of the largest online providers of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories, announced that its board of directors has approved the repurchase of up to an aggregate of $5,000,000 of the companys common stock.

The repurchases will be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing market prices, in negotiated transactions off the market, or in such other manner as determined by U.S. Auto Parts, including through plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 unde r the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

U.S. Auto Parts CEO Aaron Coleman commented: This new repurchase program reflects our confidence in the strength and future of U.S. Auto Parts. We believe this program is an effective use of our balance sheet and strong cash flow generation, and further underscores our commitment to enhancing stockholder value.

The repurchase program is expected to continue through May 16, 2018 unless extended or shortened by the Board of Directors.

About U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc.

Established in 1995, U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (the Company) is a leading online provider of automotive aftermarket parts, including collision, engine, and performance parts and accessories. Through the Companys network of websites, U.S. Auto Parts provides consumers with a broad selection of competitively priced products, all mapped by a proprietary database with applications based on vehicle makes, models and years. U.S. Auto Parts flagshi p websites include

www.autopartswarehouse.com

www.carparts.com,

www.jcwhitney.com

www.AutoMD.com

, as well as the Companys corporate website at

www.usautoparts.net

 

[brucefan]

BLOCK OF 367,700 SHARES @3.15 Clean up time?

 

[brucefan]

effectively I believe the block and overhang is gone . What I mean by that is the hedge fund has broken up and sent the certs out individuals, and those people can make their own decisions . They are being solicited by institutions who have money to buy the stock from them up to 3.25 I hear .

a climb back up over 3.35 area on continued volume would be a very bullish sign

 

[mickj]

i read car sales are projected to decline. Could that effect this stock?

 

[brucefan]

i read car sales are projected to decline. Could that effect this stock?

Actually that would help . Less people buying new cars means more people buying parts to repair old ones .

 

[mickj]

ok

 

[brucefan]

Smart money is buying this stock here . Great volume again, over 900k . The loose shares from that hedge fund that blew themsleves up are getting bought .

Chart improving and hot money should follow above 3.45

 

[brucefan]

​[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]S AUTO PARTS - (PRTS) @ $3.23 ==> Volume Analysis Post Oak Investments Distribution/ Overhang ==> Time To Dip A Toe In The Water ==> Re-Iterates "BUY" $5.00 Price Target[/FONT]

112mm Market Cap / $325mm in Annual Sales (2018 est) = 0.34x Times / Annual Sales

Darren Aftahi, daftahi@roth.com (858) 414-7244 Sales (800) 933-6830, Trading (800) 933-6820​ COMPANY NOTE | EQUITY RESEARCH | June 27, 2017​ Internet & Media For full report in pdf, please click here VIEW MODEL​ U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. | PRTS - $3.25 - NASDAQ | Buy Company Update Stock Data 52-Week Low - High $2.40 - $4.49 Shares Out. (mil) 34.63 Mkt. Cap.(mil) $112.5 3-Mo. Avg. Vol. 196,707 12-Mo.Price Target $4.80 Cash (mil) $7.2 Tot. Debt (mil) $11.7 Est. 3Yr. EPS Growth NA Current Yield NA EPS $ Yr Jan --2016--​ --2017E--​ --2018E--​ Curr​ Curr​ 1Q 0.05A​ 0.02A​ --​ 2Q 0.02A​ 0.02E​ --​ 3Q 0.00A​ 0.03E​ --​ 4Q (0.03)A​ 0.03E​ --​ YEAR 0.04A​ 0.09E​ 0.11E​ Revenue ($ millions) Yr Jan --2016--​ --2017E--​ --2018E--​ Curr​ Curr​ 1Q 80.8A​ 80.8A​ --​ 2Q 78.1A​ 79.2E​ --​ 3Q 73.5A​ 76.9E​ --​ 4Q 71.2A​ 75.0E​ --​ YEAR 303.5A​ 312.0E​ 325.7E​ PRTS: Volume Analysis Post Oak; Time To Dip Toe In The Water Post its Oak distribution (5/12/17), PRTS has traded ~10M shares in aggregate, or ~91% of total Oak L.P. owned volume. While we don’t believe all of this is related to Oak L.P. selling, we have seen recent trends of more stable volume levels and reduced volatility, as compared to prior 1 and 3 month levels. Accordingly, we believe it could be time to accumulate PRTS, a name we believe may be well insulated from AMZN’s push into online auto parts. Volume analysis post Oak distribution.We have conducted a volume analysis of PRTS since Oak Investment Partners, its largest shareholder, distributed shares to its L.P.s on May 15, 2017. With conversion of its preferred shares, in aggregate, we estimate Oak owned ~10.8M shares upon distribution, representing ~28% of PRTS total shares outstanding. Since then, we have seen elevated volume in PRTS in comparison to multiple historical averages (1 month, 3 month and 1 year prior), which leads us to believe the majority of the increase in volume has come from shares belonging to Oak and its investors.Since 5/15/17, 9.8M PRTS shares have changed hands, representing ~91% of the total shares Oak L.P.’s owned. While we do not believe all the volume (post 5/12) has been related to Oak’s L.P.s, we do believe a good majority of the elevated trading levels in PRTS shares could be associated to L.P. selling. Post Oak distribution, PRTS has seen average daily volume (over ~40 day period) up ~235%/~323% relative to 1 and 3 month daily averages prior to the distribution (on 5/12/17). However, volatility in PRTS shares (as measured by standard deviation) has reduced to ~5.8%, relative to 1 and 3 month prior levels of ~21% and ~19%, respectively.What does this mean for PRTS?In analyzing the recent market for PRTS, we believe the stock should find a floor, given volume has started to move back down towards historical levels. In June, the average volume has been ~266k, while although still above historical trends, is retreating from the levels seen in May. Although the time span is relatively short, ~1+ month since the distribution, since June 1, average volume levels have declined ~37%, average volatility down ~11%, while average price has been flat in comparison to May 15[SUP]th[/SUP]through May 31[SUP]st[/SUP]. Please see exhibit 1 and 2 for further analysis. Important Disclosures & Regulation AC Certification(s) are located on the last page of this report. SUMMARY (continued)Our analysis shows that price and volatility have decreased while volume has increased across all three durations (1 month, 3 month, 1 year) when comparing these factors since May 15[SUP]th[/SUP]to the averages across these duration windows. While these trends of price down, volume up, volatility down are not an inherently clear buy/sell signal, they do lead us to the conclusion that PRTS should be able to find a floor near current levels, especially when considering June’s trends of prices ticking up on higher than average volume and lower than average volatility and no change in the fundamentals around PRTS' business.Exhibit 1: Exhibit 2: Exhibit 3: VALUATION Our $4.80 per share price target is based on an ~11x multiple to a 2018 adjusted EBITDA (ex-Auto MD) estimate of $17.8M. This does not include any value assigned for the Auto MD business.Factors that could impede shares of PRTS from achieving our $4.80 price target include slowing domestic economic activity, a slowdown in growth of the DIY online auto parts market, increased competition from brick and mortar auto parts vendors, price competition from both offline and online competitors, increased competition from suppliers, supply disruption from international manufacturers, changes in vehicle purchasing decisions and changes to search engine algorithms, and recent filing to sell 12M shares, among other risks. RISKS Exposure to search engines - PRTS relies on free search engines to drive traffic to its websites. Changes to the free search engine business model, such as charging fees for listing and search algorithm changes, could impact PRTS' unique visitor traffic and customer acquisition costs, thereby impacting revenue and gross margins. Supplier concentration and international trade risk - in 2014, PRTS sourced 44% of product sold from 10 suppliers. Additionally, PRTS sources private label products from manufacturers in Asia, which exposes the business to risks stemming from international trade. International operations - website development and maintenance, call center operations and sales and back office support are located in the Philippines. Political, social and economic risks of operating in the Philippines could impact PRTS' operating and financial performance. Competition - the aftermarket for auto parts is extremely competitive and has relatively low barriers to entry, particularly in the online market. Threat of new entrants is high, as evidenced by certain suppliers to PRTS decision to sell direct to consumers in recent years. Ownership concentration - Insiders and affiliated parties owned 52.5% of outstanding shares at the end of 2014, which effectively gives this group control of the company and could limit shareholders' ability to effect change. COMPANY DESCRIPTION U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (U.S. Auto Parts) offers online sources for automotive aftermarket parts and repairs information. The Company principally sells its products, identified as stock keeping units (SKUs), to individual consumers through its network of Websites and online marketplaces. The Company's Websites provide customers with a selection of approximately two million SKUs with product descriptions and photographs. The Company has developed a product database that maps its SKUs to product applications based on vehicle makes, models and years. It offers a selection of aftermarket auto parts. U.S. Auto Parts classifies its products into three categories: body parts, engine parts, and performance parts and accessories. The Company sources its products from foreign manufacturers and importers located in Taiwan and China, and from the United States manufacturers and distributors.(source: Thomson 10/8/14) Regulation Analyst Certification ("Reg AC"): The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this report certifies the following under Reg AC: I hereby certify that all views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject company or companies and its or their securities. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report. Disclosures: ROTH makes a market in shares of U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. and as such, buys and sells from customers on a principal basis. Shares of U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. may be subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission's Penny Stock Rules, which may set forth sales practice requirements for certain low-priced securities. Within the last twelve months, ROTH has received compensation for non-investment banking securities-related services from U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc.. ​ Each box on the Rating and Price Target History chart above represents a date on which an analyst made a change to a rating or price target, except for the first box, which may only represent the first note written during the past three years. Distribution Ratings/IB Services shows the number of companies in each rating category from which Roth or an affiliate received compensation for investment banking services in the past 12 month. Distribution of IB Services Firmwide IB Serv./Past 12 Mos. as of 06/27/17​ Rating Count​ Percent​ Count​ Percent​ Buy [TD] 202​ [TD] 69.18​ [TD] 105​

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[TD="width: 670, colspan: 2"]Our rating system attempts to incorporate industry, company and/or overall market risk and volatility. Consequently, at any given point in time, our investment rating on a stock and its implied price movement may not correspond to the stated 12-month price target.[/TD]
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[TD="width: 670, colspan: 2"]Ratings System Definitions - ROTH employs a rating system based on the following:Buy:A rating, which at the time it is instituted and or reiterated, that indicates an expectation of a total return of at least 10% over the next 12 months.Neutral:A rating, which at the time it is instituted and or reiterated, that indicates an expectation of a total return between negative 10% and 10% over the next 12 months.Sell:A rating, which at the time it is instituted and or reiterated, that indicates an expectation that the price will depreciate by more than 10% over the next 12 months.Under Review [UR]:A rating, which at the time it is instituted and or reiterated, indicates the temporary removal of the prior rating, price target and estimates for the security. Prior rating, price target and estimates should no longer be relied upon for UR-rated securities.Not Covered [NC]:ROTH does not publish research or have an opinion about this security.[/TD]
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[TD="width: 670, colspan: 2"]ROTH Capital Partners, LLC expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking or other business relationships with the covered companies mentioned in this report in the next three months. The material, information and facts discussed in this report other than the information regarding ROTH Capital Partners, LLC and its affiliates, are from sources believed to be reliable, but are in no way guaranteed to be complete or accurate. This report should not be used as a complete analysis of the company, industry or security discussed in the report. Additional information is available upon request. This is not, however, an offer or solicitation of the securities discussed. Any opinions or estimates in this report are subject to change without notice. An investment in the stock may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Additionally, an investment in the stock may involve a high degree of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. No part of this report may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of ROTH. Copyright 2017. Member: FINRA/SIPC.[/TD]
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Darren Aftahi| Equity Research
ROTH Capital Partners
daftahi@roth.com
M: 858.414.7244

 

[brucefan]

Earnings 8/10, and looking for a good qtr . Remember these guys had every reason in the world to 'sandbag" their last report based on that block floating around.

Stock is drifting on light volume here and should be bought in my opinion .

 

[brucefan]

8/1/17, 4:08 PM
$PRTS U.S. Auto Parts to Present at the 37th Annual Canaccord Genuity Growth Conference on August 10, 2017
From our Stock News Alerts App

 

[brucefan]

August 1, 2017 Analyst News, Services 0 Comments
[h=2]Roth Capital Thinks US Auto Parts Network’s Stock is Going to Recover[/h]By Austin Angelo

Roth Capital analyst Darren Aftahireiterated a Buy rating on US Auto Parts Network (NASDAQ: PRTS) today and set a price target of $4.80. The company’s shares opened today at $2.64, close to its 52-week high of $4.35.
Aftahi commented:

“We believe much of the recent risks are discounted in shares at current valuation.”


​

 

[mickj]

down more

 

[brucefan]

down more[/QUOTER------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Remember , although most of the blocks traded higher to take out the stock from the hedge fund, there are still some small pieces floating around. The company and the buyers arent stupid, they tried to buy it all and some balked . So screw em. The buyers stepped away and are trying to suck up every loose piece thats floating around down here. I believe they know they have until the earnings to let these people out at these low prices . Stay confident, this pain ends soon .

 

[mickj]

so buy more before August 10?

 

[brucefan]

so buy more before August 10?

Thats your call, I will add as soon as we make a higher high from the previous day to indicate the seller may be done

 

[brucefan]

U.S. Auto Parts Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results






PR NewswireAugust 10, 2017





CARSON, Calif., Aug. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (PRTS), one of the largest online providers of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories, reported results for the second quarter ended July 1, 2017. All information and data are from continuing operations, which exclude the AutoMD operating segment unless specifically noted.
Second Quarter 2017 Financial Summary vs. Year-Ago Quarter

• Net sales increased 3% to $80.2 million compared to $78.0 million.
• Gross margin was 29.0% compared to 30.4%.
• Net income was $26.9 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, compared to $1.2 million or $0.03 per diluted share.
• Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure defined below) was $3.8 million compared to $4.0 million.
• Ended the quarter with no revolver debt.

Second Quarter 2017 Operational Highlights vs. Year-Ago Quarter

• Total online orders increased by 11% to 954,000 orders.
• Conversion rate increased 20 basis points to 2.0%.
• Customer acquisition cost reduced by 7% to $6.99.

Management Commentary
"Our second quarter was highlighted by the return to double-digit growth in our private label business, largely driven by a 37% increase in online marketplace sales," said Aaron Coleman, CEO of U.S. Auto Parts. "Despite lower sales in our e-commerce channel, we still increased overall sales and grew total online orders by 11%, while improving conversion and reducing customer acquisition cost.
"We are continuing to experience a shift in channel mix this year, with our lower-margin online marketplace channel gaining momentum and our e-commerce channel experiencing lower traffic. We are addressing these channel dynamics with various initiatives, including a new e-commerce traffic optimization strategy and prudent cost management across the entire organization, which is further reflected by the 130 basis point reduction of operating expenses.
"Looking ahead to the remainder of 2017, we expect the deployment of these initiatives to help drive improved results as we exit the year. But regardless of the sales channel, we plan to continue capitalizing on industry tailwinds as more and more consumers shop online for auto parts, be it through third-party sites like Amazon and eBay, or our e-commerce sites."
Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results
Net sales in the second quarter of 2017 increased 3% to $80.2 million compared to $78.0 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase was largely driven by a 37% increase in online marketplace sales to $28.3 million, partially offset by a 13% decrease in e-commerce sales.
Gross profit in the second quarter of 2017 was $23.2 million compared to $23.7 million in the year-ago quarter. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit was 29.0% compared to 30.4% in the year ago quarter. The decrease in gross margin was primarily driven by lower-margin channel mix and higher freight costs. The company continues to expect gross margin to range between 29-30% going forward.
Total operating expenses in the second quarter were reduced to $21.7 million compared to $22.1 million in the second quarter of last year. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses decreased 130 basis points to 27.1% compared to 28.4% in the year ago quarter as a result of lower call center and marketing expenses.
Net income in the second quarter was $26.9 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, compared to $1.2 million or $0.03 per diluted share in the year-ago period. The significant increase was driven by the release of a valuation allowance from the company's cumulative net operating losses, which resulted in a $25.9 million tax credit.
Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of 2017 was $3.8 million compared to $4.0 million in the year-ago quarter.
At July 1, 2017, cash and cash equivalents totaled $9.9 million compared to $2.7 million at December 31, 2016. The company also continued to have no revolver debt at July 1, 2017.

Key Operating Metrics
	Q2 2017		Q2 2016		Q1 2017
Conversion Rate [SUP]1[/SUP]	2.0	%		1.8	%		1.8	%
Customer Acquisition Cost [SUP]1[/SUP]	$	6.99			$	7.54			$	7.43
Unique Visitors (millions)[SUP] 1[/SUP]	24.7			30.2			28.9
Number of Orders - E-commerce only (thousands)	494			544			518
Number of Orders - Online Marketplace (thousands)	460			315			431
Total Number of Internet Orders (thousands)	954			859			949
Revenue Capture (% Sales)[SUP] 2[/SUP]	85.3	%		84.0	%		85.2	%
Average Order Value - E-commerce only	$	103			$	109			$	104
Average Order Value - Online Marketplace	$	67			$	71			$	67
Average Order Value - Total Internet Orders	$	85			$	95			$	87

1.	Excludes online marketplaces and media properties (e.g. AutoMD).
2.	Revenue capture is the amount of actual dollars retained after taking into consideration returns, credit card declines and product fulfillment and excludes online marketplaces and media properties (e.g. AutoMD).

2017 Outlook
U.S. Auto Parts continues to expect net sales to be up low to mid-single digits on a percentage basis compared to 2016. However, due to the aforementioned tax credit and channel mix issues, the company now expects net income to range between $27.0 million and $29.0 million, which compares to the company's previously issued guidance of $4.8 million to $7.8 million. U.S. Auto Parts also now expects adjusted EBITDA to range between $13.0 million and $15.0 million, which compares to its previously issued guidance of $15.0 million to $18.0 million. The reduced outlook for adjusted EBIDTA reflects the company's year-to-date performance, recent channel mix trends and additional projected freight-related expenses, as well as an increase in compliance costs related to its upcoming accelerated filer status.
Conference Call
U.S. Auto Parts will conduct a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time (5:30 a.m. Pacific time) to discuss its financial results for the second quarter ended July 1, 2017.

The Company's CEO Aaron Coleman and CFO Neil Watanabe will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.
Date: Thursday, August 10, 2017
Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern time (5:30 a.m. Pacific time)
Toll-free dial-in number: 877-407-9039
International dial-in number: 201-689-8470
Conference ID: 13664701
Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Liolios at 1-949-574-3860.
The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay via the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.usautoparts.net.
A telephone replay of the conference call will also be available on the same day through August 24, 2017.
Toll-free replay number: 844-512-2921
International replay number: 412-317-6671
Replay ID: 13664701
About U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc.
Established in 1995, U.S. Auto Parts is a leading online provider of automotive aftermarket parts, including collision, engine, and performance parts and accessories. Through the Company's network of websites, U.S. Auto Parts provides consumers with a broad selection of competitively priced products, all mapped by a proprietary database with applications based on vehicle makes, models and years. U.S. Auto Parts' flagship websites include www.autopartswarehouse.com, www.carparts.com, www.jcwhitney.com, and www.AutoMD.com, as well as the Company's corporate website at www.usautoparts.net.

U.S. Auto Parts is headquartered in Carson, California.https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-auto-parts-reports-second-113000092.html

 

[brucefan]

No debt, 10 million in cash, most of the hedge funds stock placed in strong hands
real value here and ripe to be acquired

[h=1]Roth Capital Analysts Give U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (PRTS) a $4.00 Price Target[/h]Thursday, August 10th, 2017
ABMN Staff


U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (NASDAQRTS) has been assigned a $4.00 price target by analysts at Roth Capital in a report released on Thursday. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the specialty retailer’s stock. Roth Capital’s price objective points to a potential upside of 44.40% from the stock’s current price.
Receive News & Ratings for U.S. Auto Parts Network Inc. Daily

 

[brucefan]

PRTS Presenting SEPT 6th-7 http://www.gateway-conference.com/presenters/

There’s no shortage of investor conferences. In fact, in the month of May alone, there are more than 200 conferences, ranging from bulge-bracket networking events to penny stock speed dating. Very few are focused on connecting the best companies with the brightest investors and sell-side analysts. Gateway’s unfiltered access and focus is what differentiates it from the crowd and is our inspiration for hosting.
Presented by: Liolios Group
As a leading financial communications and advisory firm, we sit on a busy street corner. Our business is not commission based, so our buy- and sell-side invitee list is unlimited. We leverage our longstanding relationships to source the most exciting companies. Our vendor list is purposefully small. This combination is what provides an efficient “gateway” between presenting companies and investors.

 

[Steiner69eR]

Nice hit on MXPT. Know you were long on it. Hopefully PRTS up next...

 

[brucefan]

Nice hit on MXPT. Know you were long on it. Hopefully PRTS up next...

Thanks, by the way, same source Shush()*